3rd Quarter 2022 | Volume 30, Issue 3

Golden Sweat Bee by K.P. Wilska

A Quarterly Newsletter Sponsored by the Friends in Support of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

Dear Friends,

With the summer heat comes lazy days. Some of us love the heat, while others would rather stay inside. Whatever your desire, the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge is always there with a bench under a shady tree or a walk through the forest to escape the heat.

We recently hosted several complimentary members-only events, which sold out quickly. In April, Pancakes on the Prairie gave members an opportunity to learn about the prairie ecosystem and the bison that live there, all while enjoying a pancake breakfast on the Demonstration Prairie. The waiting list was long, and we received positive feedback from participants, so be on the lookout for a repeat of this event. In May, Bob O’Kennon once again shared his knowledge of plants during the always-popular Botany with Bob. Our Wonders of Wetlands series returned for the first time in person and was raved about by participants. We will be hosting another one in the fall. Finally, in June, members enjoyed a wonderful tour of the Sid Richardson Museum by its director, Scott Winterrowd. The Bison and the Plains Indians collection was of most interest due to the bison herd at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge.

We are grateful for your interest and appreciate all the feedback we receive to help us fine-tune our member events so that they are a great experience for everyone.

We have some big news! Construction of the Bison Viewing Decks is scheduled to begin in mid-July, with completion slated for mid-October. This is, of course, if the weather and other factors cooperate. We look forward to you experiencing the decks in the fall and will be planning some members-only events there.

There is more good news! The City of Fort Worth is scheduled to begin the final phase of the Marty Leonard Lotus Marsh Boardwalk restoration late this summer, with completion in February 2023. As you may recall, the Friends contributed $300,000, courtesy of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), toward the project. We will keep you posted on both projects.

Enjoy your summer and keep checking your inbox for fall event announcements!

Your friend in nature,

Haily Summerford, MBA

Executive Director

Behind the Scenes at the Refuge

My Favorite Spot

Over the years, I have been asked, “What’s your favorite spot on the Refuge?” Most of the time, I admittedly put little thought into my response and simply go with an easy and expected answer such as “the Boardwalk,” “Lone Point,” or “Cross Timbers Trail,” depending on who is asking. Obviously, there is no such thing as a wrong answer since a) it’s my opinion and b) every spot on the Refuge is worthy of being a favorite for one reason or another.

Friends News

Tire Cleanup Effort Rolls On

Friends volunteers Jaime Dickerson and Bert Slade are still on a mission. What began as a small effort a couple of years ago to pick up trash as they hiked the trails at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge has turned into a full-blown operation to clean up the nearly 2,000 tires and other trash that have been dumped along the Canyon Ridge Trail area over the past few decades.

Local Conservation Hero Receives Well-Deserved Honor

On April 28, the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge honored George Bristol at its annual fundraising event, Fort Worth Wild. George serves on the Friends’ board and has been instrumental in acquiring Texas Parks and Wildlife funding for the Nature Center, including $200,000 for the now-improved Greer Island Trailhead and added visitor amenities.

Conservation on the Refuge

Battling Weeds with Bison Manure

If you visited the Nature Center in March, you may have noticed large piles of manure on the entry island. To some, this may be a little off-putting, but, under the surface, a lot is happening! Manure is very high in nitrogen, which is commonly added to landscapes as a fertilizer. But when used in high concentrations or in combination with other factors, such as shading, it can actually cause plants to die.

Bluestem Broadcasts

Conservation Conversations with Donald Beard

This spring, we continued our Conservation Conversations series with Donald Beard, superintendent of Caprock Canyons State Park. Caprock Canyons hosts the official Texas State Bison Herd. Donald sat down with Friends Executive Director Haily Summerford to discuss two keystone species that call Caprock Canyons home: bison and prairie dogs. A special thank-you to the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation for providing our new podcast equipment!

LISTEN Here

Volunteer and Staff Spotlight

Hands & Hearts Celebrates Volunteers

Hands & Hearts is the Nature Center’s annual celebration of our volunteers. We recognize their hard work and dedication to the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge with awards, a catered dinner, activities, and a raffle. Usually, Hands & Hearts takes place in February, but this year, we decided to move it to April — National Volunteer Appreciation Month.

Interning at the Nature Center

My name is Emory Leyda, and I am the new natural scientist education intern at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. I am studying Ecology for Environmental Science at the University of North Texas, which is why I am so excited to spend my summer at the Nature Center furthering my education.

Did You See It?

Fort Worth Wild 2022

Each issue, we highlight the most-popular post that was featured on social media the previous quarter. Enjoy this look back at what caught our followers' attention. Follow us if you haven't already! Links are below.

From April 29, 2022

On April 28, the Friends honored George Bristol at Fort Worth Wild, our annual fundraising event held at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. The following day, we posted photos from the event along with this message: "Thanks to all who attended the 2022 Fort Worth Wild event honoring conservation legend George Bristol this year. A fabulous evening in a beautiful setting."